Egg-crate.



No. 653,706. Patented July I7, |900.

' G. H. SHUBT.

EGG CRATE.

Application tiled Aug. l5, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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YM: cams vanas co. Puma-urns. wnsmusrou. cv c NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUY H. SHORT, OF STILLVVELL, ILLINOIS.

EGG-CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 653,706, dated. July 17, 1900.

Application filed August 15,1893 Serial No. 727,310. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GUY H. SHORT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stillwell, in the county of Hancock and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Egg-Crate, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to folding crates; and it has for its object to provide a folding crate in which the parts thereof will occupy a small space when folded and also in which the structure will be cheap and efficient as well asdurable.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in which likenumerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete crate set up, a portion of the cover being broken away. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of Fig. 1 looking to the right. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the crate, showing the parts in their folded positions. Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken at one side of the removable partition.

Referring now to the drawings, 5 represents the base of the crate, at each end of which is fixed an end sill 6 and 7, respectively, and at the opposite sides of which are fixed side sills 8 and 9, the sill 8 projecting above the upper edge of the end sills a distance equal to the thickness of the material of the ends 10 and 1l of the crate, which are hinged to the end sills 6 and 7, respectively, so that when said ends are folded inwardly to lie in a common horizontal plane their upper surfaces will lie flush with the upper edge of the sill 8. The sill 9 projects above the sill 8 a distance equal to the thickness of the material of which the sides 12 and 13 of the crate are formed, in the operation of folding the crate, the ends being folded inwardly, as above intimated, the side 12 being then folded upon the ends and the side 18 folded upon the side 12. The sides, as also their sills, engage the ends of the end vpieces and their sills respectively, and in order to retain them in this position there is pivoted to the inner face of each end piece 10 and 11 a hook 14, the shank of which is of such length that the hook 15 thereof may lie snugly against the outer faces of the sides 12 and 13. Slots 16 are formed vertically of the side pieces and adjacent their ends and receive the hooks in their operative positions, thus presenting an even upper edge to the crate for the close adjustment of the cover 17 thereto. It will be observed that the slots 16 are formed by unobstructed saw-kerfs, so that the shanks of the hooks may rest upon the inner ends of the slots and the hooked ends 15 may have a broad bearing against the outer faces of the side sections.

In order to hold the sides 12 and 13 against inward movement and also to divide the receptacle, there is provided a partition 18, the lower end of which is provided with dewelpins 19, adapted to enter openings 2O in the bottom 5. The partition 18 is of a width equal to that of the crate or the inclosure of the crate, and upon one face of the partition and adjacent the upper edge thereof are pivoted turn-buttons 21, adapted to enter re'- cesses 22 in the inner faces of the sides 12 and 13. Thuswhen the crate is set up, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the hooks will hold the sides against outward displacement, while the partition will hold them against inward displacement, the partition being prevented from displacement laterally by the pins and buttons; also, the hooks prevent outward or inward displacement of the ends 10 and 1l. Moreover, the covergcloses the open outer ends of the slots 16 and the recesses 22, so as to prevent accidental displacement of the hooksli and the turn-buttons 21.

As an additional means for preventing out- Ward displacement of the ends 10 and 11 the top 17 or cover has at its ends downwardlyextending flanges 25, which lie closely against the outer ends of the crate, as shown, the cover being held against removal by means of hooks 26, adapted to engage eyes 27, carried by the crate. It will be noted that the flanges 25 are located at opposite ends only of the cover, so as not to bear against or interfere with the hooked ends of the hooks 14, which lie upon the outer faces of the side sections.

Handle-openings 28 of usual form are made in the' ends 10 and 11, while recesses 29 are formed in the inner walls of the sides to receive the eyes 27 when the crate is folded, as shown in Fig. 3.

When it is desired to fold the crate, the cover is first removed, after which the parti- IOO tion is withdrawn'and is laid withinV .the in` closure of the sills. The ends 10 and 1l are then folded inwardly, the hooks 14 having been disengaged, after which the side 12 is folded to lie upon the ends and the side 13 to lie upon the side 12. The cover is then adjusted to the position shown in Fig. 3, and the hooks 26 are engaged with eyes 30 upon the end sills 6 and 7 to hold the parts in place.

It will of course be understood that any desired number of partitions may be employed and that the proportions and size of the crate may be Varied, as also the material thereof, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is The herein-described egg-crate comprising the bottom 5 having secured thereto the end sills 6 and 7, and the side sills 8 and 9, the sill 8 being wider than the end sills by a distance equal to the thickness of the ends 10 and 11 ofthe crate, the said ends hinged and turning `inward upon the sills 6 and 7, respectively, so that they will lie horizontal, with their upper surfaces flush with the upper edge of the sill 8, and the sill 9 projecting above the sill 8 to a distance equal to the combined thickness of the sides 12 and 13 so as to fold inwardly and lie horizontally thereon, the removable transverse vertical partition 18 being provided with the turn-buttons 21 and doWel-pins 19 to engage suitable opposing openings, the end hooks 14 engaging the outer faces of sides 12 and 13 andthe cover 17, all Vconstructed and arranged substantially as shown and described, for the purposes specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GUY H. SHORT.

Witnesses:

NELLE BATsoN, MoLLm MCCABE. 

